The next phase in the hardware war begins

BRISBANE'S western suburbs are now bracing to become the latest battlefield in Australia's hardware wars.

Bunnings Warehouse hopes to build its biggest-ever store in Keperra - a 25,000 square metre "big box" development on the eight-hectare site of the Keperra Quarry on Settlement Road, to be completed by 2015.

Meanwhile, arch rival Masters is building a store three kilometres away in Everton Park, at the old Woolworths distribution centre.

Despite having only opened its first store in August 2011, Masters - owned by Woolworths - is planning a further 50 Masters stores, after already opening 20.

As local residents opposed to the new Bunnings gather signatures, the rivals continue to throw down the gauntlet in other areas of Brisbane.